Thousand Oaks Gardens of the World

This is a sponsored post through Conejo Valley. All opinions, thoughts and photographs are our own.

While visiting Conejo Valley we discovered an oasis in the middle of the city. Thousand Oaks Gardens of the World is a breath of fresh air amongst the hustle and bustle of the surrounding community. The gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 4:30 p.m., and closed Mondays, most national holidays and during inclement weather.

The gardens were not crowded during our visit. There were perhaps a half-dozen other people walking or sitting and enjoying lunch. It’s a wonderful place to escape and rewind from the hussle and bustle going on all around. Directly across the street from the main entrance is Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, along with many other area businesses.

The gardens are definitely a welcoming oasis!

There are docent led or self-guided tours. We chose to self-guide, which worked well for us. We took our time, soaked in the beauty, and even got inspiration for our gardens at home. There are six unique gardens, each with a delightful and different-world flavor of its own.

The French Garden greets you as soon as you walk through the magnificent iron main gate. The centerpiece is a beautiful six level cascading waterfall surrounded by low hedges and vibrant colored flowers arranged into intricate designs.

The Mission Courtyard depicts early Californian history with its famous Mission Trail. It’s an authentic Mission Courtyard surrounded by colorful hand-painted murals of each of the 21 early California Missions. A Spanish style fountain graces the center of the courtyard. One very interesting bit of trivia we learned: traditional mission courtyard fountains had three levels. Chickens were known to drink from the first level, horses from the middle, and people from the top. We had no idea!

The Japanese Garden is a delicate balance of harmony inspired by ancient Asian culture. At the center is an authentic Japanese Pagoda. The pagoda is in the midst of a Koi pond surrounded by bamboo and bridges. It’s a wonderful place to sit, ponder and savor a tranquil moment.

The English Perennial & Rose Garden is an explosion of color with vivid floral displays. The rose varieties are of all different shapes and sizes that bloom seasonally. Even the arbor is covered with gorgeous roses.

The Italian Garden is surrounded by distinctive cypress trees, indigenous to the famed gardens of Italy. There’s also a beautiful chain fountain running through the garden, inspired by historic Italian architecture.

The Bandstand is an authentic replica of a real American Bandstand. A perfect setting for concerts in the park that can be enjoyed from the grassy amphitheater. There’s also a picnic area with quintessential tables and benches. A great setting for being entertained while enjoying the moment.

The gardens are gorgeous and serene. We took our time strolling the grounds and enjoyed every single minute we were there. We’re big fans of nature and botanical spaces. Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks is an inspiration.

I have driven through Thousand Oaks a lot but I have never stop there. Looks like there is a lot to do there that I would enjoy. Who love to have a break from driving and stretcher legs at this place. It looks beautiful.